Двенадцать лет рабства

           Atthefirstnote,ifindeedtherewasmorethanonenoteinthewholetune,theycircledaround,trottingaftereachother,andgivingutterancetoaguttural,sing-songnoise,equallyasnondescriptasthemusicofthefiddle. Attheendofthethirdcircuit,theywouldstopsuddenly,whoopasiftheirlungswouldcrack,thenbreakfromthering,formingincouples,manandsquaw,eachjumpingbackwardsasfaraspossiblefromtheother,thenforwards—whichgracefulfeathavingbeentwiceorthriceaccomplished,theywouldforminaring,andgotrottingroundagain. Thebestdancerappearedtobeconsideredtheonewhocouldwhooptheloudest,jumpthefarthest,andutterthemostexcruciatingnoise. Atintervals,oneormorewouldleavethedancingcircle,andgoingtothefire,cutfromtheroastingcarcassasliceofvenison. 

           Inahole,shapedlikeamortar,cutinthetrunkofafallentree,theypoundedcornwithawoodenpestle,andofthemealmadecake. Alternatelytheydancedandate. ThuswerethevisitorsfromTexasentertainedbytheduskysonsanddaughtersoftheChicopees,andsuchisadescription,asIsawit,ofanIndianballinthePineWoodsofAvoyelles. 

           Intheautumn,Ileftthemills,andwasemployedattheopening. OnedaythemistresswasurgingFordtoprocurealoom,inorderthatSallymightcommenceweavingclothforthewintergarmentsoftheslaves.